Men's Basketball Returns Home For Five Of Next Seven Games, Cal State Northridge Is Up First Thursday

Game No. 16
Big West Game No. 6
Saturday, January 18, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. University of the Pacific Tigers
at UCSB's Thunderdome

The Gaucho Record
UC Santa Barbara has split games each of its first two weekends of Big West Conference action. The Gauchos split a pair of road games this past weekend, winning 62-53 at Idaho on Thursday and then losing on Saturday at Utah State, 75-59. UCSB is now 5-9 overall and 2-2 in the Big West.

Road-Weary Gauchos Get Ready For Some Home Cooking
After playing ten of its first 14 games away from home this season, UCSB is more than ready to hunker down and play some games at the Thunderdome. Beginning with this weekend's games against Cal State Northridge and University of the Pacific, the Gauchos will play five of their next seven games at home, where they are 3-1 this season. Additionally, the only two road games during the next seven are at UC Irvine and Long Beach State, both relatively manageable bus trips.

Fullove's Return Lifts UCSB
Win or lose, junior guard Branduinn Fullove's absence was felt in games against UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton. Fullove, who first suffered a strained groin on December 21 at BYU and then re-injured it at the end of a December 28 game against Bucknell, sat out UCSB's first two Big West games of the season, a home win over UCR and a home loss in overtime to Fullerton. Fullove returned to action over the weekend and played a pivotal role in the win at Idaho, scoring all 12 of his points in the second half of the eight-point victory.

The Williams FileBob Williams is in his fifth season as the head coach at UC Santa Barbara. Last year, he guided the Gauchos to a 20-11 overall record and an 11-7 mark in Big West Conference play. It was the school's first 20-win season since 1992. Most importantly, however, Williams led UCSB to its first Big West Conference Tournament Championship ever and first NCAA Tournament appearance in 12 years. In his first four-plus seasons in Santa Barbara, Williams' teams have posted a 67-61 overall record and a 44-26 record in Big West games. In 1998-99, his first year, the Gauchos went 15-13 overall and 12-4 in the Big West, winning the league's Western Division championship. That year, they closed the campaign by going 15-5 and Williams was selected Big West Coach of the Year. Prior to his arrival at UCSB, he spent eight years at UC Davis and in those eight years, his teams recorded 20 or more wins five times and a 158-76 record. In each of his last four seasons, the Aggies advanced to the NCAA Tournament and in 1997-98, Williams' final season, they went 31-2, won the NCAA Division II National Championship and he was named NABC Division II Coach of the Year. Including two seasons at Menlo College, Williams has a record of 256-161 at four-year schools.

Game Time Changed For February 27 Game Against LBSU
The game time for UCSB's February 27 home game against Long Beach State has been changed from 5:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The move was made to accommodate Fox Sports Net, which will televise the game live in Southern California.

Possible Starters - Notes
G - Jacoby Atako - Has made three-point baskets in back-to-back games.
G - Nick Jones - Has led or tied for the team-lead in rebounds eight times this season.
G - Branduinn Fullove - Eclipsed the 900 career point mark in the win at Idaho.
F - Mark Hull - Has hit 16 three-point baskets in his last four games.
F - Casey Cook - has made 6-of-8 shots in his last two games, 75.0%.

Probable Reserves - Notes
G - B.J. Ward - Has gone scoreless in last five game.
G - Chrismen Oliver - Six points at Utah State were his second-highest total this year.
G - Cecil Brown - Has not made a field goal in his last two games, 27 total minutes.
G - Josh Davis - Has 21 rebounds in last seven games after having just four in first seven.
F - Bray Skultety - Torn ACL in left knee will sideline him for the season.
F - Bryan Whitehead - Has produced four steals in his last three games.
F - Scott Rainey - Scored the first points of his career on a dunk against Utah State.
F - Derek Wheeler - Has played in six of 14 games this season.

Skultety's Season Ends With Knee Injury
For the first couple weeks of practice, senior forward Bray Skultety was making a very strong bid for the starting nod at the five spot. Skultety emerged over the final 25 games last season, becoming one of the Gauchos' top rebounders and a sparkplug off the bench. He was a great story. In only his second year of organized basketball, Skultety, a walk-on, had become a regular on a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Awarded a scholarship prior to this season, Skultety's story kept getting better and better, but on November 1, the tale took a turn for the worse. In practice on that Friday, Skultety tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, ending his season and most likely his collegiate career. As a fifth-year senior, an injury redshirt year is a very remote possibility. In 2001-02, Skultety played in 26 games, starting one, averaging 2.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He easily led the team in rebounds per 40 minutes played at 16.2, and despite his 6-foot-6 height, he ranked second on the team in blocked shots with 13.

The Opponents
UCSB has a lifetime record of 18-4 against Cal State Northridge. The Gauchos swept the two games in the series last season, defeating the Matadors in Northridge by a score of 57-54 and in Santa Barbara by a 58-51 margin. Last season's games were the first between the schools as Big West opponents. The Gauchos have played Pacific 84 times in a series that dates back to 1947. The Tigers hold a narrow 43-41 edge and the schools split a pair of games last season with each team winning on its home court. Pacific topped the Gauchos 73-70 in Stockton and UCSB bounced-back with a 70-57 win in Santa Barbara.

Gauchos Grapple To Make Their Points
UCSB scored more than 80 points in two of their first three games this season. The Gauchos scored more than 70 in three of their first four games. In the last ten games, however, they have not crossed the 70-point threshold. On the year, the Gauchos are averaging 65.2 point per game, but in the last ten games they have averaged just 61.1 per game. Taking it a step further, in the last seven games, five of which have been losses, UCSB has tallied just 414 points, an average of 59.1 per game. The Gauchos scored a season-low 55 points in their last home game, an overtime loss to Cal State Fullerton on January 4. On the other side of the coin, UCSB has stayed in games with defense, allowing just 64.4 points per game this year, 60.8 over the last 11 games.

A Three-Point Respite
In its two road games over the weekend, UCSB took a bit of a break from its three-point barrage. The Gauchos attempted just 12 three-point shots in the win at Idaho, the equaling the second-lowest total of the year, and they made just four, also the second-lowest total of the season. In the loss at Utah State, UCSB was just 6-of-25 from beyond the three-point arc, a season-low 24.0%. In fact, the combined ten three-pointers that the Gauchos made in the two road games was the same total they made in the previous game against Cal State Fullerton. On the year, Santa Barbara has now made 109 three-point baskets, an average of 7.9 per game. Last year, the Gauchos set a school record with 201 threes, and if they can maintain their current pace they would probably break that. Interestingly, UCSB has attempted fewer than 15 three-pointers three times this season, once each against Centenary, San Francisco and Idaho, all wins. The Gauchos best effort from three-point territory, in terms of percentage, was a 9-of-12 (75.0%) outing against Centenary. Santa Barbara has made ten or more three-pointers four times, once each against Cal (11), Pepperdine (ten) and Bucknell (ten) in addition to the game against Cal State Fullerton. In fact, UCSB has made nine or more three-point baskets eight times in its 14 games. Nine different Gaucho players have made three-pointers this season and seven different UCSB players, Mark Hull, Branduinn Fullove, Nick Jones, Cecil Brown, Jacoby Atako, Josh Davis and Chrismen Oliver, have made at least two in a game.

Free Throw Imbalance
UCSB continues to struggle from the free throw line, the opposition, on the other hand, does not. The Gauchos are shooting just 67.9% from the charity stripe while their opponents are shooting a glistening 77.1%. In 14 games, Santa Barbara's opponents have made 82 more free throws, an average of 5.9 per game. The opposition has attempted 80 more than the Gauchos.

The Gauchos At Home
UCSB enters the weekend with a record of 3-1 in home games. The Gauchos have recorded wins over San Francisco, USC and UC Riverside. UCSB's only home loss of the season was an overtime defeat against Cal State Fullerton in their last Thunderdome appearance on January 4. Last season, the Gauchos posted a 10-2 record in home games, the best home record they produced in more than ten years.

Nick At Night
Junior guard Nick Jones continues to rank third on the Gauchos in scoring at 13.6 points per game. He has scored in double-figures in four straight games and 12 times in 14 games this season. Jones scored 11 points in each of the games on the recently concluded trip to Idaho and Utah State. In the two games, he hit 7-of-17 from the field overall, 41.2%, but just 1-of-6 from three-point range, 16.7%. Jones has made at least one three-point basket in 12 of 14 games this year, but he each of the two games in which he failed to make a three, have come in the last four games. Sandwiched in between a pair of games in which he did not make a three-point basket, Jones tied his season-high with four against Cal State Fullerton. In addition to his offensive exploits this season, Jones has consistently been the Gauchos' best rebounder. He leads the team at 5.9 rebounds per game and he has either led or tied for the team lead in boards eight times this season. Jones led the team in rebounds in the games at Idaho (5) and Utah State (6). He has had five or more rebounds in three straight games and nine times this season. In addition, he is the only UCSB player to record a double-double this season, going for 16 points and ten rebounds in a home win over San Francisco. Jones is averaging 1.4 assists per game, but he has had two assists in five of his last six games.

The Hull Truth, Nothing But
Senior forward Mark Hull has moved into a tie for the team-lead in scoring average at 15.0 points per game. He has scored in double-figures in six consecutive games, averaging 17.7 per game over that span. In the games at Idaho and Utah State, Hull averaged 18.0 points per game and made 13-of-23 shots overall, 56.6%, and 5-for-13 from three-point territory, 38.5%. In his last six games he has made 39-of-71 shots overall, 54.9%, and 21-of-41 from three-point range, 51.2%. Hull has scored 20 or more points in two of the last three games, three of the last five and four times this season. With 210 points on the year, he has now scored a career total of 1,360 and he has moved into fifth-place on the all-time list. If and when he hits the 1,400 point mark, he would become just the fourth UCSB player to do so. In addition, Hull has drained 39 three-point baskets this season. He has made at least one three-pointer in 13 of 14 games and two or more in six straight and 11 times overall. In addition, Hull has made three or more five times in the last six games and ten times this season. He has made a season-high of five twice, once each against Cal State Fullerton and Bucknell. With 186 career three-point baskets, he needs 11 to become the school's all-time leader. Hull is also piling-up a lot of minutes. When he played 32 minutes in the loss at Utah State, it was his lowest total in ten games. In fact, in the five games prior to the game against the Aggies, he played 192 of a possible 205 minutes, 94.0%.

Fulloving It
Junior guard Branduinn Fullove returned to the UCSB lineup after a two-game absence due to a strained groin. Fullove was obviously rusty in the first half of the game at Idaho, his first action in two weeks, but in the second half he scored 12 points, making 4-of-5 shots overall and a three-pointer. He played just 24 minutes in the win over the Vandals. On Saturday at Utah State, Fullove played 28 minutes, but he struggled, making just 3-of-12 shots overall and missing all five of his three-point attempts. He finished with seven total points. On the year, Fullove is now averaging 15.0 points per game and the single-digit effort at Utah State snapped a streak of five straight games in which he had scored ten or more points. Over those five, Fullove averaged 16.0 points per game and shot 51.0% overall and 46.2% from three-point territory. When he went without a three-point basket at Utah State, it was just the second time this season he had failed to make at least one three-pointer. It snapped a streak of five straight games with at least one three as well. With 19 points in the two games last weekend, Fullove has now eclipsed the 900 point mark for his career. He enters this weekend's games with a career total of 908 points. His 110 career three-point baskets rank sixth on UCSB's all-time list.

What's Cooking?
Sophomore forward Casey Cook had mixed results on last week's trip to Idaho and Utah State. In the Idaho game, he had one of his best performances, making 5-of-7 shots from the field, scoring ten points and pulling down five rebounds. It was his second double-figure effort of the season and the fourth of his career. At Utah State, Cook got into foul trouble and wound up with four points, making his only field goal attempt. By making 6-of-8 field goals in his last two games, 75.0%, he has improved his field goal percentage on the season to exactly 50.0%, 29-of-58. Overall he is averaging 5.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, both rank fourth on the team.

Help Cecil, Help!
Freshman guard Cecil Brown struggled offensively in the games last weekend. He missed a pair of field goals in each game, going scoreless at Idaho, and making three free throws at Utah State. Brown is now averaging 4.9 points per game and shooting 35.5% from the field. At times this year, he has been brilliant on the offensive end. In the opener against Weber State, he had 12 points in just ten minutes and in a 15 minute performance at Pepperdine, he scored 13 points. Brown has also been solid on the defensive end and he set a career-high with two steals on Saturday at Utah State.

Just Joshing
Since scoring a career-high 14 points and making all five of his field goal attempts in a November 2 win over UC Riverside, freshman guard Josh Davis has scored a total of five points and gone 2-for-13 (15.4%) from the field. Now that's not to say that he hasn't contributed, he has. In fact, over the same three-game span, he has averaged 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. On the year, Davis is now averaging 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 90.0% from the free throw line.

Atako Rides The Rollercoaster
Sophomore point guard Jacoby Atako has been on a rollercoaster ride this season. He enters the week as the team's leader in assists at 3.1 per game, but in the last seven games, he has had just 14 assists to go with 13 turnovers. Atako has had four or more assists five times this season, but just one time in the last seven games. He is averaging 4.2 points per game and shooting 36.8% from the field. Finally, for the first time this season, Atako has made three-point baskets in back-to-back games, drilling one at Idaho and one at Utah State.

The Life Of Bryan
Junior forward Bryan Whitehead had arguably his best half of basketball this season in the first half at Utah State on Saturday. Whitehead had five points, three rebounds, one blocked and two steals in the first half against the Aggies. In the process, he made all three of his free throw attempts and his only field goal attempt. Whitehead, like the rest of the Gauchos, struggled in the second half, finishing with five points, four rebounds, one blocked shot and a pair of steals. The five points he scored in the game at Utah State was just one less than he had scored in the previous five games combined. Whitehead is averaging 3.4 rebounds per game and has averaged 4.5 in the last four games.

Ward Of The Court
On December 27, senior guard B.J. Ward scored a season-high seven points in a loss to Nebraska. In five games since then, a period of 19 total minutes, he has been scoreless, missing all three of his field goal attempts. On the year, Ward is averaging 1.6 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.

Oliver's Twist
Sophomore Chrismen Oliver has assumed the back-up point guard role. Since playing just one total minute in two games at the azcentral.com/ASU Hoops Classic, Oliver has averaged 15.2 minutes per game in league play. On the year, he is averaging 1.8 points and 1.8 assists per game, but in the last four, he has averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 assists. On Saturday at Utah State, Oliver scored six points, his second-highest total of the season. He also made his fourth three-point basket of the year and is now 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.